Smart Justice

The Commitment: Pulaski County Funds Group Violence Intervention

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1213400/fan_mail/new] On November 20th, 2025, leaders in Pulaski County reached a pivotal moment in the fight against violence. After two years of discussions and research on bringing Group Violence Intervention to the area, they joined forces and made a commitment to fund the strategy.  The announcement happened at a press conference that marked a new chapter for the community. In this episode, you’ll hear the voices from that moment—leaders explaining why this decision matters, what comes next, and the shared resolve to save lives. #community #safety #safecommunities #crimeprevention #communityviolenceintervention Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1213400/support] [Website]: https://smartjustice.org/ [https://smartjustice.org/]  [YouTube]: https://www.youtube.com/@wewillrestorehope [https://www.youtube.com/@wewillrestorehope] [Spotify + Apple + More]: https://smartjustice.buzzsprout.com/1213400/follow [Facebook]: https://www.facebook.com/wewillrestorehope [https://www.facebook.com/wewillrestorehope] [LinkedIn]: https://www.linkedin.com/company/restore-hope-arkansas [https://www.linkedin.com/company/restore-hope-arkansas] [Instagram]: https://www.instagram.com/restorehope.io/ [https://www.instagram.com/restorehope.io/]

The Impact of Violence on Children and Families

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1213400/fan_mail/new] Violence has left deep scars across Pulaski County, touching children, parents, and entire neighborhoods. LaShanna Bruce and Deanna Walderns of the 100 Families Initiative sit down with Restore Hope's Paul Chapman to explain how the initiative helps families in crisis and offers real alternatives to a life of violence. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1213400/support] [Website]: https://smartjustice.org/ [https://smartjustice.org/]  [YouTube]: https://www.youtube.com/@wewillrestorehope [https://www.youtube.com/@wewillrestorehope] [Spotify + Apple + More]: https://smartjustice.buzzsprout.com/1213400/follow [Facebook]: https://www.facebook.com/wewillrestorehope [https://www.facebook.com/wewillrestorehope] [LinkedIn]: https://www.linkedin.com/company/restore-hope-arkansas [https://www.linkedin.com/company/restore-hope-arkansas] [Instagram]: https://www.instagram.com/restorehope.io/ [https://www.instagram.com/restorehope.io/]

How Fort Worth Is Reducing Shootings

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1213400/fan_mail/new] Pastor Rodney McIntosh knew something had to change in Fort Worth, Texas. Drawing inspiration from the Advance Peace model in Richmond, California, he launched Violence Intervention and Prevention Fort Worth (VIPFW) – a program that's transforming how communities address gun violence by focusing on individual. VIPFW's success lies in who they hire: respected community members who once contributed to neighborhood problems and now dedicate themselves to solving them. These "neighborhood change agents" possess a unique blend of street credibility and professional commitment that allows them to reach people traditional authorities cannot. As one team member explains, "You literally have to be able to be around young people and know how to toe the line, be an example for them but still be so close that they don't lose that level of respect they have for you." Unlike programs that check in occasionally with at-risk individuals, VIPFW maintains daily—sometimes multiple daily—contact with participants enrolled in their peacemaker fellowships. This relentless engagement creates unprecedented support systems for young people navigating trauma and limited options. The program incorporates education on emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, and mental health awareness while providing opportunities to experience life beyond neighborhood boundaries. Fort Worth recorded zero gang-related shootings during the first six months of 2023, compared to 25 in the same period the previous year. By recognizing that those driving violence aren't broken beyond repair but overlooked and unresourced, VIPFW demonstrates that targeted, relationship-based interventions can break even the most entrenched cycles of violence. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1213400/support] [Website]: https://smartjustice.org/ [https://smartjustice.org/]  [YouTube]: https://www.youtube.com/@wewillrestorehope [https://www.youtube.com/@wewillrestorehope] [Spotify + Apple + More]: https://smartjustice.buzzsprout.com/1213400/follow [Facebook]: https://www.facebook.com/wewillrestorehope [https://www.facebook.com/wewillrestorehope] [LinkedIn]: https://www.linkedin.com/company/restore-hope-arkansas [https://www.linkedin.com/company/restore-hope-arkansas] [Instagram]: https://www.instagram.com/restorehope.io/ [https://www.instagram.com/restorehope.io/]

Silencing the Sirens: Voices That Save Lives

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1213400/fan_mail/new] In this episode of the Smart Justice podcast, we sit down with Reverend Kevin Crumpton, pastor, community leader, and project manager for Pine Bluff’s Group Violence Intervention (GVI) strategy. Crumpton has worn many hats throughout his career—from probation officer and jail lieutenant to school PTO president—but his lifelong passion has always been serving young people and families in crisis. As a trusted voice in his community, Crumpton plays a unique role in bridging law enforcement, schools, social services, and families impacted by gun violence. He shares how Pine Bluff went more than 550 days without a homicide, what it means to respond to families within hours of a tragedy, and how wraparound resources like grief sessions, school counseling, and even emergency relocation funds help prevent cycles of retaliation. Crumpton also emphasizes that GVI isn’t a program—it’s a strategy rooted in relationships, accountability, and hope. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1213400/support] [Website]: https://smartjustice.org/ [https://smartjustice.org/]  [YouTube]: https://www.youtube.com/@wewillrestorehope [https://www.youtube.com/@wewillrestorehope] [Spotify + Apple + More]: https://smartjustice.buzzsprout.com/1213400/follow [Facebook]: https://www.facebook.com/wewillrestorehope [https://www.facebook.com/wewillrestorehope] [LinkedIn]: https://www.linkedin.com/company/restore-hope-arkansas [https://www.linkedin.com/company/restore-hope-arkansas] [Instagram]: https://www.instagram.com/restorehope.io/ [https://www.instagram.com/restorehope.io/]

Mothers Who Lost Sons Share Their Journey Through Grief and Hope

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1213400/fan_mail/new] Yolanda Harrison and Tina Dobbins share raw, heartbreaking accounts of receiving the calls that changed everything—learning their sons had been shot, rushing to hospitals, and facing the brutal reality that their children were gone. Both women describe how this trauma fundamentally changed them, triggering serious health issues and requiring them to forge new identities in the aftermath of loss. "When he died, I died. I had to learn how to be someone else," Harrison explains, detailing her struggle with PTSD and depression despite her background as a healthcare worker. From the prosecutor's perspective, Chief Deputy Kelly Ward reveals alarming trends in gun violence across Pulaski County, particularly the proliferation of illegal firearms and their deadly modifications. What once might have been teenage disagreements resulting in minor injuries now instantly escalate to homicides. Crime scenes that previously had four shell casings now regularly have fifty due to modified automatic weapons in the hands of increasingly younger offenders. The conversation doesn't stop at describing problems—it explores solutions. Both mothers have channeled their grief into community action, founding and participating in organizations that support other grieving families while working to prevent future violence. They emphasize the critical need for early intervention with young people, teaching conflict resolution skills before conflicts turn deadly, and addressing anger management issues that, left untreated, can lead to violence. Join us for this essential discussion about the true human cost of gun violence and the community-based approaches that offer real hope for breaking cycles of trauma. Together, we can build a future where fewer families experience the devastating grief these mothers continue to navigate daily. #violence #justice #community #grieving #prosecution Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1213400/support] [Website]: https://smartjustice.org/ [https://smartjustice.org/]  [YouTube]: https://www.youtube.com/@wewillrestorehope [https://www.youtube.com/@wewillrestorehope] [Spotify + Apple + More]: https://smartjustice.buzzsprout.com/1213400/follow [Facebook]: https://www.facebook.com/wewillrestorehope [https://www.facebook.com/wewillrestorehope] [LinkedIn]: https://www.linkedin.com/company/restore-hope-arkansas [https://www.linkedin.com/company/restore-hope-arkansas] [Instagram]: https://www.instagram.com/restorehope.io/ [https://www.instagram.com/restorehope.io/]